Heath Ledger Wins Best Actor (AFI)
Ledger, 28, who died of an accidental overdose of painkillers and other medicines in his New York apartment 11 months ago, was posthumously awarded the AFI (Australian Film Institute) international award for best actor.
Guests at a packed awards ceremony in Melbourne's Princess Theater rose to their feet clapping, but with some in tears, to pay tribute to the actor who was nominated for an Oscar for his role as a taciturn gay cowboy in 2005's Brokeback Mountain.
"It has been without a doubt the most difficult year, losing such a loved family member," said his sister Kate, fighting back tears as she accepted the award alongside Ledger's parents.
"We are so proud of him and humbly accept this award on behalf of his beautiful daughter (Matilda) who we will cherish forever."
The AFI, celebrating its 50th-annual award ceremony, paid tribute to Ledger, describing him as "ground-breaking actor trapped in the body of a leading man".
"He was the untamed spirit many of us wish we could be. May the legend live on," an AFI tribute said.
Cate Blanchett won the equivalent award for women for her role in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. A drama about a teenage boy learning to live with an autistic brother won the night's top award for best film.
The Black Balloon, the favorite to win best film and nominated in 11 categories, beat The Jammed, The Square and Unfinished Sky for the coveted award.
The film, which opens in the United States this month, picked up various other awards including best supporting actor and actress for Luke Ford and Toni Collette, while director and co-writer Elissa Down won best direction and original screenplay.
Unfinished Sky, a rural romantic drama which received 10 nominations, received the award for best adapted screenplay and its leading actors, William McInnes and Monic Hendrickx, took home the awards for best lead actor and actress.
In television, the critically acclaimed crime drama Underbelly about the Melbourne gangworld dominated the night, winning six of eight awards for which it was nominated, including best TV drama series.
The Dark Knight was released July 18th, 2008 and stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Michael Caine, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman, Monique Gabriela Curnen. The film is directed by Christopher Nolan.
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Clockworkcookie
Alyce: ignorance also means not knowing that "Swiss" comes from "Switzerland", not Sweden.
:]
4 years agoby @clockworkcookieFlag
Oli
Just one of many deserving awards to come!
4 years agoby @reviloleeFlag
T.Clark
I was just going by your defintion
4 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
Alyce (Uh-Lease)
...it means neutral as in the country of Sweden never takes sides...is just as ignorant to assume heaven and hell doesnt exist as it is to assume it does....religion is faith, the faith to believe in something that isnt certain, its the hope that something more exists beyond this life...
4 years agoby @alyceepoohFlag
Shelley
Overdose of cold medicine? Heath died from an accidental overdose of prescription medications including painkillers, anti-anxiety drugs and sleeping pills. I do not understand how everything became about religion and sins. How is playing a part in a movie a sin? As far as him being a complete idiot, I do not agree. I blame the doctor that prescribed the medications, he/she is the idiot. There are a lot of people who abuse prescription medication, famous and not famous. And as far as religion and this whole thing is concerned, 'judge not lest ye be judged'.
4 years agoby @shelleyFlag
T.Clark
Well, if you think about it, an opinion if someone is going to hell IS ignorant(based on YOUR definition) because there's no knowledge or facts on the existence of Heaven or Hell. If you think about, religion is ignorance...and what the hell is swiss on the issue?!
4 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
Alyce (Uh-Lease)
Yes I have....everyone on this subject is ignorant, if history has taught us anything its that the media can be used to influence or report false information...ignorance is the lack of knowledge in which opinons annot be influenced, if his opnion is that heath ledger is going to hell nothing you or I can say anything to change that
By the way I said I was swiss on the issue
4 years agoby @alyceepoohFlag
T.Clark
Have you even read killerman's comments, alyce?...he's ignorant, and it's not because of his "beliefs."
4 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
Alyce (Uh-Lease)
Drama drama drama...but im gonna put my two cents in anyway, but before i do i'm gonna say im swiss on the issue...first off im sure they guy has at least one sin with the whole brokeback thing and all, and he must have been a complete idot for overdosing on cold medicine even if that was what it was, not that that makes his death bad or anything i felt for th guy and his family too, but to call some one ignorant for their beliefs is just as ignorant as anything he said
All in all the speaking of the movie, i thought it was his best performance and im sad we couldnt watch him expand on his newly found talent
4 years agoby @alyceepoohFlag
Shelley
I thought Heath did an exceptional job in TDK and at least deserves an Oscar nomination.
4 years agoby @shelleyFlag
Chad Vital
Why? Cause he didn't believe in God or Jesus or because he secretly murdered thousands of people so they won't let him into heaven? Killerman, do you ever think before you talk? He accidentally overdosed on pills you dork. According to the rulebook (The Bible's guidelines that is), you will goto hell for committing suicide, which he did not do. Cause first off, why would you be in such a potentially huge movie playing a legendary character as The Joker and then try to kill yourself? Doesn't make any sense. He knew going in that Batman Begins was successful and I'm sure his agent told him to go for it. I just don't understand why everyone wants everything to be at it's worst when it's not. People like you are ruining our nation and that's why other nations hate us. Because you're ignorant.
4 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag
killerman200
i hear time stands still in hell. So for him it probably feels like 11 years. He's not resting in peace anywhere. Nough said.
4 years agoby @killerman200Flag
THE JOKER
yeah time really does fly...we all knew he was going to win awards for this role. RIP
4 years agoby @mcleve02Flag
Chad Vital
Dang 11 months since he passed? Time flies.
4 years agoby @chad-vitalFlag
Diaigma
History has shown us that all great nations dissolve over time, usually over issues that VIS already mentioned. America is no exception, but it can get worse, much worse, before the crap really hits the fan. I hope I'm dead before that happens, or residing on Mars, one or the other :P
Again, Heath's role as Joker was the most profound and haunting performance I've seen this year. Anything earned will add to his legacy, as short lived as it was.
4 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
killerman200
Hey pal, Will Smith already took the role for Obama, knock it off with the damn civil speech, Nough said.
4 years agoby @killerman200Flag
T.Clark
No, people like me just give America a name. It's a country where you can get almost anything you want and we take advantage of it. Rapists, murderers, and political and religious disputes give America a BAD name. I won't leave because it's the best country to make something of yourself. I worry about ME, and America offers the best things for ME. If it wasn't good for me, yeah, I'd leave. I'm more selfish than hypocritical and I'm fine with it
4 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
Javen
honestly, do things like this really matter in the world? I appreciate the talent of Mr. Ledger and he deserves several awards. However, for populace to be so hateful towards each other still is beyond my comprehension. It doesn't matter what America or any other country decides in way of distributing awards to whomever, your lives will go on. Simple.
4 years agoby @javenFlag
CelluloidDreams
Nice .....
4 years agoby @2movieguysFlag
killerman200
Well, if think this nation suck. I don't see you investing on leaving. Your just another hypocrite Agent. Pampered by the luxuries this country offers and what do you do tare it. People like you give america a bad name.
4 years agoby @killerman200Flag
T.Clark
And the people in that nation SUCK
4 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
systemof9191
next is the oscar, i hate when ppl say america is so great, dont u think other countries get tired adn pissed off of us gloating about ourselves all the time
4 years agoby @systemof9191Flag
Messenger
I don't know you guys are saying America is still GREAT. It's mass hysteria that gets people thinking we are going down hill, the economy yes but as a nation we are still great.
4 years agoby @messengerFlag
Diaigma
Word, VIS.
Heath deserves the Oscar as well.
4 years agoby @diaigmaFlag
T.Clark
Killerman, I've stated many times that the main reason TDK made so much is because of Heath's death, so no, I'm not sad.
Also, you're beef now is that this is America so we can't have druggies winning awards for ACTING?! Come on now. If you hadn't noticed, America has gone down the sh*thole at a reasonably fast pace, and drug abusers are the least of our problems, sh*tface. Rapists, murderers, stupid political fights and stupid religous fights, economic problems...our country is filled with it, so I wouldn't be thinking that America is too good to have an overdose victim win a goddamn Oscar. It should be the least of your worries. If he killed someone or caused physical harm on someone else that would be frowned upon, then yeah, we'd have a problem. He didn't, so we don't. Get over it.
On a side note, get off the site, spammer
4 years agoby @insertusernamehereFlag
the Narrator
Well Messenger, i think it's because it keeps us busy on this site, when were bored out of our minds. That's at least the case for me.
4 years agoby @narratorFlag
Messenger
Guys why do you really bother? I think killerman is wrong as a lot of you do but he has his own OPINION you can't change that.
4 years agoby @messengerFlag
JR
killerman, heath want a junkie it was an overdose of sleeping pills, he tried to get some rest cause he worked his ass off to make a kick ass joker for you! and how do you repay him/ by making up lies and calling him gay and a druggy! shut the f*ck up you little prick idoit!
4 years agoby @supbitchFlag
the Narrator
Hehe, sure.
4 years agoby @narratorFlag
killerman200
You'll have my vote, just as long as you lower the movie ticket prices.
4 years agoby @killerman200Flag